Novel numerical optimisation of the Hohmann Spiral Transfer

Steven Robert Owens, Malcolm Macdonald

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

  • 2 Citations

Abstract

As the revenue of commercial spacecraft platforms is generated by its payload, of which the capacity is maximised when fuel-mass is minimised, there is great interest in ensuring the fuel required for the trajectory to deliver the satellite to its working orbit is minimum. This paper presents an optimisation study of a novel orbit transfer, recently introduced by the authors through an analytical analysis, known as the Hohmann Spiral Transfer . The transfer is analogous to the bi-elliptic transfer but incorporating high and low-thrust propulsion. This paper has shown that substantial fuel mass savings are possible when utilizing the HST. For a transfer to Geostationary Earth Orbit it is shown that a fuel mass saving of approximately 320 kg (~ 5 - 10% of mwet ) is possible for a wet mass of 3000-6000 kg – whilst satisfying a time constraint of 90 days. Several trends in the gathered data are also identified that determine when the HST with high or low-thrust plane change should be used to offer the greatest fuel mass benefit.
LanguageEnglish
PagesPaper IAC-13-C1.6.7
Number of pages11
Publication statusPublished - 23 Sep 2013
Event64th International Astronautical Congress 2013 - Beijing, China
Duration: 23 Sep 2013 → 27 Sep 2013

Conference

Conference64th International Astronautical Congress 2013
CountryChina
CityBeijing
Period23/09/13 → 27/09/13

Fingerprint

Orbits
Orbital transfer
Propulsion
Spacecraft
Earth (planet)
Trajectories
Satellites

Keywords

  • Hohmann Spiral Transfer (HST)
  • high-thrust propulsion
  • low-thrust propulsion
  • geostationary earth orbit

Cite this

Owens, S. R., & Macdonald, M. (2013). Novel numerical optimisation of the Hohmann Spiral Transfer. Paper IAC-13-C1.6.7. Paper presented at 64th International Astronautical Congress 2013, Beijing, China.
Owens, Steven Robert ; Macdonald, Malcolm. / Novel numerical optimisation of the Hohmann Spiral Transfer. Paper presented at 64th International Astronautical Congress 2013, Beijing, China.11 p.
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Owens, SR & Macdonald, M 2013, 'Novel numerical optimisation of the Hohmann Spiral Transfer' Paper presented at 64th International Astronautical Congress 2013, Beijing, China, 23/09/13 - 27/09/13, pp. Paper IAC-13-C1.6.7.

Novel numerical optimisation of the Hohmann Spiral Transfer. / Owens, Steven Robert; Macdonald, Malcolm.

2013. Paper IAC-13-C1.6.7 Paper presented at 64th International Astronautical Congress 2013, Beijing, China.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

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AU - Macdonald, Malcolm

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AB - As the revenue of commercial spacecraft platforms is generated by its payload, of which the capacity is maximised when fuel-mass is minimised, there is great interest in ensuring the fuel required for the trajectory to deliver the satellite to its working orbit is minimum. This paper presents an optimisation study of a novel orbit transfer, recently introduced by the authors through an analytical analysis, known as the Hohmann Spiral Transfer . The transfer is analogous to the bi-elliptic transfer but incorporating high and low-thrust propulsion. This paper has shown that substantial fuel mass savings are possible when utilizing the HST. For a transfer to Geostationary Earth Orbit it is shown that a fuel mass saving of approximately 320 kg (~ 5 - 10% of mwet ) is possible for a wet mass of 3000-6000 kg – whilst satisfying a time constraint of 90 days. Several trends in the gathered data are also identified that determine when the HST with high or low-thrust plane change should be used to offer the greatest fuel mass benefit.

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KW - low-thrust propulsion

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Owens SR, Macdonald M. Novel numerical optimisation of the Hohmann Spiral Transfer. 2013. Paper presented at 64th International Astronautical Congress 2013, Beijing, China.

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